Probiotics are especially helpful in preventing the diarrhea that can result from antibiotic therapy. They ease other gastrointestinal conditions as well, including irritable bowel syndrome and flatulence. They also help to prevent vaginal and urinary tract infections, and to counteract the overgrowth of the fungus Candida albicans.
Some studies suggest that probiotics improve overall health by strengthening immunity, which declines with age. A 2001 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that volunteers given milk that contained bifidus experienced an increase in white blood cells, which help fight off infection.
Probiotics may also help protect against colon cancer. They create an acidic environment in the intestine and neutralize the enzymes that convert precarcinogens into carcinogens. Animal studies have also shown that some probiotics directly inhibit the formation of tumor cells.
Although diary products, such as milk or yogurt, can be fortified with bifidus or acidophilus, they are an unreliable source for therapeutic levels of probiotics. Most such products do not contain a sufficient quantify of "active" or live bacteria--generally considered to be a minimum of one billion live organisms per dose. For this reason, supplements may be a better choice.
Bifidus is available in capsules or powders, often in combination with acidophilus or fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), indigistible dietary fibers that also stimulate the growth of healthy intestinal bacteria.
It's important to read the label of all bifidus or bifidus-acidophilus combination products to be sure that the cultures are active. Check the expiration date, too, and always refrigerate your probiotic supplements. Both heat and freezing temperatures will kill the live bacteria.
